Arctic rangers extreme cold weather gear development - ON-1211

Project type: Innovation
Desired discipline(s): Aerospace studies, Engineering, Engineering - other, Design, Social Sciences & Humanities
Company: Wuxly
Project Length: Flexible
Preferred start date: As soon as possible.
Language requirement: English
Location(s): Mississauga, ON, Canada
No. of positions: 3
Desired education level: CollegeUndergraduate/BachelorMaster'sPhD
Open to applicants registered at an institution outside of Canada: No

About the company: 

Wuxly is a Canadian leader in advanced textile integration, tactical apparel, smart textiles, and soft-goods manufacturing. We pair design, pattern engineering, supply chain expertise, and scalable production to deliver mission-ready solutions for defence and government clients.
We operate as the commercial and operational bridge between breakthrough textile technologies and end users, acting as a systems integrator and program manager from concept through delivery. Our work sits in the dual-use arena: defence and tactical applications (including extreme cold-weather uniforms, outerwear, shelters, covers, and concealment) alongside a growing consumer business translating the same performance standards into premium outerwear and everyday gear.
Our products and programs are executed under ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 disciplines and shaped by performance proven in the world’s harshest environments.

Describe the project.: 

This project focuses on the development of an advanced multi-layer clothing system designed specifically for the Canadian Arctic Rangers, who operate in some of the most extreme and variable cold-weather environments on earth. The primary goal is to deliver an innovative, modular uniform system that enhances thermal protection, mobility, durability, and operational effectiveness while addressing current limitations in adaptability and comfort.
A central component of the project is collaboration with Arctic Indigenous residents and communities whose lived experience and deep knowledge of northern environments provide critical insight into cold-weather survival, mobility, and clothing performance in Arctic conditions. Through ongoing engagement and user-centered consultation, the project will incorporate community-informed perspectives on functionality, durability, cultural relevance, and environmental realities to help ensure the system is practical, effective, and responsive to the needs of those who live and work in the North.
The innovation centers on a next-generation layered apparel solution that integrates advanced textiles, moisture management systems, and adaptive insulation technologies. The project also explores improvements in ergonomics, weight reduction, and compatibility with existing equipment and survival gear.
Key tasks include requirements analysis based on operational use cases, benchmarking existing military and commercial cold-weather systems, material selection and testing (e.g., insulation performance, breathability, wind resistance), and iterative prototyping. Field validation will be a critical component, involving real-world testing in Arctic conditions to assess performance, durability, and user comfort, including feedback and evaluation from Arctic Indigenous collaborators and northern end users.
The methodology combines human-centered design, materials engineering, Indigenous-informed collaboration, and iterative product development. Techniques include environmental simulation testing, community and user feedback loops, and performance benchmarking against defined metrics such as thermal efficiency, moisture regulation, and wear resistance.
The expected outcome is a validated, field-ready clothing system that improves safety, endurance, and mission capability for Arctic Rangers. Additionally, the project will generate transferable knowledge in extreme cold-weather apparel design through a collaborative northern innovation approach, with potential applications in military, search and rescue, and industrial sectors operating in polar environments.

Required expertise/skills: 

Required expertise includes textile science (insulation, moisture management, breathable membranes) and technical apparel design for extreme environments. Proficiency in CAD tools such as CLO 3D is needed for garment prototyping, along with data analysis tools (Excel, MATLAB, or Python) for performance evaluation.
Candidates should have strong human-centered design skills, including ergonomics and user testing, as well as experience with materials testing and environmental simulation. Project management and structured documentation are essential.
Optional assets include experience in military or cold-weather gear development, knowledge of Arctic operations, and familiarity with ISO/ASTM textile standards or smart textiles.